Thoughts on the Marshall DSL20H?? Alternatives?

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napalmdeath

napalmdeath

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This one is in my budget, even though I've looked at some more expensive heads, but I'd like to be a cheapskate if I can get a good amp for much less.

I've read they had some reliability issues, noise, and crappy FX lloops.These could be very early models, however, and newer amps could have had fixes/revisions.

Anybody have one? If it has the Marshall goods on the cheap, I may get one. I can't really justify an SC20, or even another used PT20 V2. I just can't afford it, but will, if the DSL is junk. I'm only interested in a small lunchbox footprint. I found a Mesa Mark V 25 cheap, but it may be overkill.. Not a Marshall, but I've had one years ago, and it was a screamer!
 
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What about a Studio 900? People are ranting and raving about them. Im actually thinking of picking one up eventually.
 
romanianreaper said:
What about a Studio 900? People are ranting and raving about them. Im actually thinking of picking one up eventually.
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I didn't want to spend that much for new, zero 900's on the used market. And, wouldn't you know it, Marshall just had a price increase. The Studio line all went up to $1349.
 
I really like my DSL20 head. It doesn't do any heavy lifting for me though. I normally just run it at home with a few pedals in front of it, no FX loop.
 
What is your budget? A mini Rectifier could be a decent alternative but a bit pricier. I used to gig with mine. It never let me down.
 
I’d say this is a pretty good representation of it

 
Dsl 20 was the worst amp I ever had. Bees in a can is the only way I can describe it. I would get any of the Friedman 20 Watters over it. Actually the little Soldano mini SLO head sounds better and they are like 200 bucks.
 
BenoA said:
What is your budget? A mini Rectifier could be a decent alternative but a bit pricier. I used to gig with mine. It never let me down.
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They're too loud for home use. They sound great, but the volume goes from zero to holy shit.
 
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the DSL20's are awesome ....... pre covid you could score one for 300 .... not even close now ..... but still worth what they are getting these days
 
Chris6870 said:
Dsl 20 was the worst amp I ever had. Bees in a can is the only way I can describe it. I would get any of the Friedman 20 Watters over it. Actually the little Soldano mini SLO head sounds better and they are like 200 bucks.
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Agreed, the top end can get out of hand if not careful
 
griff10672 said:
the DSL20's are awesome ....... pre covid you could score one for 300 .... not even close now ..... but still worth what they are getting these days
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I grabbed a new one for $629. I figured new was the way to go, vs. a potential problematic used. I can always return it, and they're in-state, so I'll have it tomorrow.
 
romanianreaper said:
What about a Studio 900? People are ranting and raving about them. Im actually thinking of picking one up eventually.
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The studio 900 rips! I just snagged a used one from gc last week. I was planning on returning as I just wanted to try it out but I might need to keep it around and sell some shit!
 
napalmdeath said:
This one is in my budget, even though I've looked at some more expensive heads, but I'd like to be a cheapskate if I can get a good amp for much less.

I've read they had some reliability issues, noise, and crappy FX lloops.These could be very early models, however, and newer amps could have had fixes/revisions.

Anybody have one? If it has the Marshall goods on the cheap, I may get one. I can't really justify an SC20, or even another used PT20 V2. I just can't afford it, but will, if the DSL is junk. I'm only interested in a small lunchbox footprint. I found a Mesa Mark V 25 cheap, but it may be overkill.. Not a Marshall, but I've had one years ago, and it was a screamer!
Click to expand...
I had a DSL40 combo that I hauled around to shows in the trunk of my car for about 10 years. Very good sound, durable and reliable.
 
Maguchi said:
I had a DSL40 combo that I hauled around to shows in the trunk of my car for about 10 years. Very good sound, durable and reliable.
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I've had one of those as well. I changed the speaker and tubes, and it rocked. Sounded like a good old Marshall!
 
napalmdeath said:
They're too loud for home use. They sound great, but the volume goes from zero to holy shit.
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You made me play my lil' mini Recto tonite. It had been a while. Yep, even on 10w it goes loud quickly but once you find that very low sweet spot, you can manage something to play at home.
 
napalmdeath said:
This one is in my budget, even though I've looked at some more expensive heads, but I'd like to be a cheapskate if I can get a good amp for much less.

I've read they had some reliability issues, noise, and crappy FX lloops.These could be very early models, however, and newer amps could have had fixes/revisions.

Anybody have one? If it has the Marshall goods on the cheap, I may get one. I can't really justify an SC20, or even another used PT20 V2. I just can't afford it, but will, if the DSL is junk. I'm only interested in a small lunchbox footprint. I found a Mesa Mark V 25 cheap, but it may be overkill.. Not a Marshall, but I've had one years ago, and it was a screamer!
Click to expand...

Have a look at the Origin 50H, I have bigger Marshalls, Engl Artist Edition and a Bogner Helios Eclipse, and think the Origin is great.


Edit: FWIW, I also have an Origin50C 1x12 combo, and DLS40CR 1x12 combo. They're different, I like them both.
 
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I've had the 20HR and 40CR and recently got the 1HR. I think the 1HR sounds the best.. probably because you can really crank the Master higher (in .1 watt mode) than with the 20/40. It's even cheaper and smaller than the 20 and perfect for the home. In 1 watt mode it gets way too loud in the bedroom... but .1 watt is magic. It sounds huge at .1 watt. It's got more bass at bedroom volume than the others and even my 2204 at the same volumes. Euge was impressed.
 
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